Corinne Kouper

Senior VP of development and production
TeamTO
France

Pitching: Tiny Island
 
What is the biggest issue facing the animation industry?
The biggest issue is the transformation caused by the arrival of many new digital platforms, at the same time that traditional private and public channels have been adapting their strategies. The future coexistence of these different types of broadcasters, each with their own individual programming strategy, means that there will have to be a maturation period during which the channels adapt their programming schedule to their relative positioning. Until this process is well underway, it will be extremely hard to accommodate the demands of more than one broadcaster, and it can make it harder to work with several financial partners on the same project as they all tend to demand similar rights.

What is your company doing in response to this?
TeamTO continues to expand domestically and in the global market by providing creative and eclectic programmes. In recent years, TeamTO has developed two distinct lines of business: original in-house projects and high-end third-party servicing, which has enabled the studio to remain fluid and flexible. We have significantly increased our volume of activity with digital platforms while remaining committed to our traditional broadcasters, building relationships with new players while continuing to work with our long-time partners.

What impact could the Covid-19 pandemic have on the animation industry long-term?
In the short term, this crisis will allow us to greatly expand our talent pool. With the experience of working remotely, we realised we are much less tied to a geographical or physical location than we previously thought and can effectively work as a global team even if we are not in the same studio. But long term it will not change the way we have always worked – together, as a creative force in the same physical studio, where individuals greatly benefit from the spirit and energy that comes from the whole team.

How are SVoD services changing the animation industry?
These platforms come with significant funding and an appetite for ambitious, atypical projects that change the traditional targets and formats inherited from linear broadcasting. From a creative point of view, it totally changes the type of projects we are working on, increasing freedom in both formats and targets, as well as how to deal with subject matter.

Tell us about the project you are pitching at Cartoon Forum.
Tiny Island (52×11′) is a preschool show about Tiny, who is indeed small compared to other islands, but she has a huge mission: when she realises that not everyone can get to a secluded tropical island for a break from daily life, she thinks maybe she can come to them. Tiny travels the world sharing her different perspective, joy and a chill attitude with any kid who needs a helping hand. Tiny’s a coach, helper and cheerleader, all rolled into one. In this complicated time for children, the goal of this series is to help give them tools to find their emotional balance.